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Published on: 7/28/2007
Last Visited: 8/1/2007
Mark Allen, founder and director of the Wild West Arts Club in Las Vegas, Nev., said whipcracking goes back thousands of years.
"Whips were designed to be used as noise makers to herd sheep and cattle," he said."If you wanted the herd to go to the right, you'd crack the whip on the left and the noise would scare them and the animals would turn away from it."
Naturally, the whips are associated with the old west, because they were used in cattle drives.
"Our organization works to preserve and promote the wild west arts, also known as the Western Arena Arts," said Allen.
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Allen said that learning any new skill takes practice and discipline.
"Whipcracking involves hand-eye coordination and it's a very challenging skill," Allen said.